Packaging mechanism



Nov. 5, 1940. L. R. wlLsoN PACKAGING MEcHANIsM Filed latch 14, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Leon R. Wa'lson/ ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcs PACKAGING MECHANISM Application March 14, 1940, Serial No. 323,965

This invention relates to a device and method for applying adhesive tape to containers. It has to do, more particularly, with a device for applying non-drying adhesive tape to seal the covers of relatively small cylindrical, rectangular or other shaped containers having a ilat base, and in which the cover slips downover the body portion of the can or package. It is especially useful in sealing cylindrical ink containers to prevent ink oozing out beneath the slip covers upon handling and storage.

Heretofore, sealingl of containers of this type has usually been done by hand, which operation was awkward and time consuming, the sticky tape being difiicult to handle and to secure evenly and tightly around the edge of the cover.

One of the objects of my invention. is to provide a simple, convenient device for applying sealing tape to cans or other packages of the slip cover type.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated which may be quickly and easily adjusted for applying tape to containersbf different dimensions. I; l

A further object is to provide a device which will allow the incorporation of commercial spools of adhesive tape of the variety commonly known as Scotch tape in the ta'pe feeding mechanism of the device.

A still further object is to provide a tape applying device in which the tape applicator is `moved around the stationary container, Aand in which the tape is maintained at a predetermined tension.

A still further object is to provide a seal which is easily removed when the contents of the package is to be used.

other objects will be apparent from the following description and claims and the accompanying drawings. z

g Figure 1 is a plan view showing the horizontal relations of the parts of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation ofmy device showing the supporting assembly and certain details pf the container retaining and tape applying means. I

Figure 3 is an end elevation showing in greater detail the means -for holding the container in place, for adjusting the device for containers of different dimensions, andthe tape holding and Y applying means.

With the reference to the drawings, like characters denote similar parts throughout the varl ious iigures.

(ci. 21o-2o) is aillxed a frame y designated generally at A, comprising supporting standards II, adjusting screw I2 and top yoke I3. One end `of arm I4 is slidably mounted upon supports II and cooperatively threaded with screw I2while the 5 other end terminates in collar I5 through which passes shaft I8. Below collar lIii andencircling shaft IB is a spring I1, compressedbetween collars I 5 and 36. Hand lever I8 pivotally secured by pin zu to lugs ls or collar ls forming a m1- 1 crum at 20, terminates in yoke 4I which is pivotally mounted on collar 43 by the arms oi' yoke 4I, and secured by pins 2I.

Spring I1 rests on xed abutment collar 33 secured to the end of the shaft I8 by set screw 31. 15

Above frame member A is handle 22, locked onto the upper extremity of adjusting screw I2. Upon turning, handle 22 raises or lowers arm I4, and the entire sealing assembly B-C attached thereto. to accommodate for varying heights of 20 containers to be sealed.

Mounted near the lower extremity of shaft I6 and piercing the shaft at right angles is a swing. ing rod 23, one end of which is bent downwardly and carries the'tape holding mechanism desig- 25 nated generally atC.

Rod 23 is secured to the end 3! of shaft I3 and is held in place by set screw 40. y

The intermediate' portion of rod 23 carries two wheels 2l, 24, axially mounted thereon and.30 l,

adapted for free rotation aroundrod 23 tas .well f as for circumferential travel Aaround the top of container 2l, 'and fixed in place by cotter pins"v I 33. Container-25 is securedin the desired position by knurled lock nuts 23, 21, inserted in holes :35-

to allow the insertion of nuts 23,' 21 in'varying '40 positions dependingon the dimensions of the. packagetobesealed.- The various members of thetape` vholding mechanism C are mountedy .on the threaded' downwardly disposed end member 230i swinging. 45 rod 23. The spool of tape 29 is held firmly between two recessed discs 30, 30,l which in turn are held by two washers 3.I, 3l, two lever lock washers 32, 32, and twowing nutsv 33, 33. The end member 23 of rod 231s threaded to allow the 50 spool to be set at the proper height for alignment with the head oi' thecontainer and' the bottom edseof the cover. y

Crank 34 ,is adjustably mounted in enlarged head 35 of shaft I3,'and held in position by set Q5 screw 44, and serves to turn the entire assembly B-C in the-application of tape 29.

In operation, container 2l, on which cover 42 has been secured, is placed on base I0, centered in alignment with shaft Il and locked in position by knurled lock nuts 24 and 21. By turning hand wheel 22 the assembly B-C is lowered until rollers 24 rest on the top of cover 42. The rollers. 24 are firmly held against cover 42 by the action of spring I1 acting against collar 36 exerting a predetermined resilient pressure through shaft 23 on rollers ,24, and insuring complete closure and seating oi the lid before sealing. Threaded portion 28 of arm 23 provides means for raising and lowering the' assembly C to effect the desired alignment. 'Ihe free end of adhesive tape is afdxed by gentle pressure to the line of closure oi can and cover, with part of the tape extending over the cover above, and the can 20 below. the point of closure. 'I'he tape feed is brought to proper desired tension'by adjustment of wing nuts 33 and lever lock Washer 32. Then hand wheel I4 is rotated one or more revolutions by which tape 29 is wrapped tightly and evenly about the perimeter of the can, sealing the closure, the tension furnishing the necessary pressure to cause the non-drying adhesive tape to adhere firmly to can and cover.

Eccentric lock nut 2l is set opposite to the di- 80, rection of rotation of the tape so that rotation of the mechanism holds the container firmly in place.

After sealing has been effected by `suitable overlapping of the tape, the tape is severed, the

861 can 25 released by lowering hand lever I8, and

o appropriate adjustments can be made by again raising,` or lowering arm I4 and by moving pins 2l, 21 to other holes 39.

parting from the scope of the invention which' is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus of the character described for applying tape to articles of the type indicated,

comprising a base adapted to retain a container to be sealed, a tape applying means carried by said base and positioned in cooprative relation to the container, said means provided with rotatable tape holding means, adjustable container retaining means comprising a pair of rollers mounted so that they may be resiliently :urged against the top of the container, an to move in a circular path around the top'of the container, synchronously with the rotation of the tape applying means. 4

2. Apparatus of the character described for applying adhesive tape to cylindrical ink cans of the type provided with slip covers,vcomprising a tape applying means positioned in cooperative relation to the can and equipped with'rotatable tape holding means, and means for controlling the tension exerted on the tape during application; adjustable article retaining -means comprising a pair of rollers forpositioning to be urged against the top of said can and resilient means for urging the rollers against said canv and to move in a circular path around the topthereof means for moving said' r'-"ers and to thereby actuate the tape applying means to traverse the perimeter of the can and surround LEON R. WILSON. 

